About ten years ago, a young and very successful businessman named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his shiny, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.

He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child came out, but a brick sailed out and - WHUMP!  - it hit the Jaguar's shiny black side door! SCREECH ... ! ! ! ! Immediately Josh stopped the car, jumped out, seized the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" "That's my new Jaguar, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" begged the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" tears were streaming down the boy's face as he pointed around the parked car.  "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb (路沿) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up. " Sobbing, the boy asked the businessman, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me. "

Moved by the words, the young businessman lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapers and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the black, shining, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE -- a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. Feel for the bricks of life coming you.

1.The boy threw a brick at the businessman's car because ________.

A. he wanted to ask for some money

B. he wanted to get help from the driver

C. the businessman drove at a high speed

D. he hated the brand-new car very much

2.What can we learn from the passage?

A. Josh would accept the money from the kids.

B. The two kids were Josh's neighbors.

C. Josh's new car broke down easily.

D. Josh was a kind-hearted man.

3.According to the passage, the last sentence means ________.

A. trying to be more understanding seeing others in trouble

B. trying to get ready for the trouble in your future life

C. driving fast in a neighborhood street is dangerous

D. protecting oneself from being hurt

About ten years ago, a young and very successful businessman named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his shiny, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.

He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child came out, but a brick sailed out and — WHUMP! — it hit the Jag’s shiny black side door! SCREECH...!!!! Immediately Josh stopped the car, jumped out, seized the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam, he went on. " That’s my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?"

"Please, mister, please....I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!" begged the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" tears were streaming down the boy’s face as he pointed around the parked car. "It’s my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled of the curb (路沿) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up. "Sobbing, the boy asked the businessman," Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.

Moved beyond words, the young businessman tried hard to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapers and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long walk back to the black, shining 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE — a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. Feel for the bricks of life coming at you.

The boy threw a brick at the businessman’s car because ________.

A. the businessman drove at a high speed

B. he envied the brand-new car very much

C. he wanted to ask for some money

D. he wanted to get help from the driver

Which of the following is the right order of the story?

A. The younger brother threw a brick at Josh’s car.

B. The elder brother fell out of his wheelchair.

C. The younger brother begged Josh for help.

D. Josh lifted the elder brother back into his wheelchair.

e. Josh shouted at the younger brother.

A.b, a, e, c, d        B. a, c, d, b, e           C. b, a, c, e, d    D. a, c, b, e, d

What can we learn from the passage?

A. Josh would accept the money from the kids.

B. The two kids were Josh’s neighbors.

C. Josh was a kind-hearted man.

D. Josh’s new car broke down easily.

according to the passage, the last sentence means ________.

A. trying to get ready for the trouble in your future life

B. driving fast in a neighborhood street is dangerous

C. trying to be more understanding seeing others in trouble

D. protecting oneself from being hurt

A 12-year-old boy saw something in a shop window that set his heart racing. But the   1  – five dollars was far beyond Reuben Earle’s money. Five dollars would   2  almost a week’s food for his family.
But hearing the sound of hammering (捶打的声音) from a side street, Reuben had a(n)   3 . He ran towards the sound and discovered he could   4  the hessian sacks (麻袋) which were thrown away and sell them for five cents a piece.
Every day   5 , Reuben walked down the town, collecting   6  . On the day the school closed for the summer, no student was more   7 than Reuben, for he had more time for his “work”. Then one day the time had   8 .
Reuben ran down Water Street to the   9  . “Please, Mister. I have to sell the sacks now.” The man took the sacks,   10  into his pocket and placed four coins in Reuben’s hand. Reuben said a thank you and   11  home. On arriving home, Reuben uncovered the tin can   12 he kept the money. He poured the coins out and began to count. He had   13  .
Then he headed for the shop. “I have the money,” he told the owner   14  . The man went to the window and   15  Reuben’s treasure. He wiped the dust off, carefully wrapped (包裹) it in brown paper and   16  it to Reuben.
Racing home, Reuben shouted, “Here, Mom! Here!” He placed a small   17  in her hands. She unwrapped it carefully. A jewel box   18 . Dora lifted the lid (盖子), tears beginning to fill her eyes. Dora had   19  received such a gift; she had no jewelry   20  her wedding ring. Speechless, she smiled and gathered her son into her arms.

About ten years ago, a young and very successful businessman named Josh was traveling down a Chicago neighborhood street. He was going a bit too fast in his shiny, black, 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE, which was only two months old.
He was watching for kids rushing out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no child came out, but a brick sailed out and—WHUMP! —it hit the Jag’s shiny black side door! Immediately Josh stopped the car, jumped out, seized the kid and pushed him up against a parked car. He shouted at the kid, “What was that all about and who are you? That’s my new Jag, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it? ”
“Please, mister, please. . . I’m sorry!  I didn’t know what else to do! ” begged the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop! ” Tears were streaming down the boy’s face as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother, mister” he said. “He rolled off the curb (路沿) and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up. ”Sobbing, the boy asked the businessman, “ Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me. ”
Moved beyond words, the young businessman tried hard to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapers and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be OK. He then watched the younger brother push him down the sidewalk toward their home.
It was a long walk back to the black, shining 12 cylinder Jaguar XKE—a long and slow walk. Josh never did fix the side door of his Jaguar. He kept the dent (凹痕) to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention. Feel for the bricks of life coming at you.
【小题1】The boy threw a brick at the businessman’s car because _____ .

Captain Henry，a 98"year—old American retired fisherman，has become a first—time author．having written and published his autobiography In a Fisherman’s Language after learning to read at the age of 91．

Mr.Henry spent most of his life without even his closest family members knowing he wasilliterate(不识字的)．Forced to quit school in the third grade to take odd jobs，he kept the secret close to his chest，only telling his late wife．Henry’s granddaughter，Marlisa，told reporters how he used tricks，like waiting for others to order at restaurants first，to avoid the issue．

A family dispute(纠纷)in his 90s，she said，aroused his desire for education．“He signed a document he could not read about where he was going to live， Marlisa said．Starting with his name，he eventually moved on to the ABC’s and children’s books．He put them down since his wife fell ill．After the tragic loss of his wife，、he went back to reading and began to log his life．He wrote about his family’s voyage from Portugal to the US，how he went on to captain a boat，and his many journeys at sea． 

His life stories have become so popular that nearly 800 copies were sold in the first two weeks after the book’s release．One thousand more have since been printed as requests for the book flood in from as far as Germany．And now even Hollywood producers have approached Mr．Henry about buying the rights to his life story for a big screen adaptation．

The family also now has a book agent and a deal in the works to publish a second edition．Meanwhile，the family says they are reconnecting and closer than ever as a result of Henry’s．1ate—life efforts．.“Everyone has a story，”Marlisa said．“It teaches that when you’re down and out．  never give up.”

1.When did Henry begin writing his life story?

A．When he was 91 years old．              B．After his wife passed away．

C．When he was 98 years old．               D．After he retired from work．

2.Which of the following is true?

A．Hollywood wishes to make a movie out of his book．

B．Henry never told anyone that he couldn’t read or write．

C．Henry began his reading with some famous novels．

D．Henry’s book was well-received only by Americans．

3.How did Henry’s family benefit from his writing?

A．The family got more money from the 2nd edition．

B．The family ties were rebuilt and strengthened．

C．His family moved from Portugal to the USA．

D．His family story has been made into a movie．

4.What message can Henry’s story give us?

A．Great minds think alike．                 B．Every coin has two sides．

C．Practice makes perfect．                 D．One is never too old to learn．